Mayor Emanuel Supports Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive in Chicago

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today donated food to the Stamp Out Hunger food drive, supporting an annual event that raises millions of pounds of food for donation around the country. The Mayor challenged Chicagoans to eclipse last year’s staggering 634,000 pounds of food donated.

“I am proud to support Stamp Out Hunger in Chicago,” said Mayor Emanuel. “It is a wonderful testament to the people of Chicago that they come together regularly to support those less fortunate, and this is a perfect way for Chicagoans to show the breadth and depth of their character.”

Mayor Emanuel himself delivered a bag of food this morning to the post office nearest City Hall, to ceremoniously kick off Stamp Out Hunger day.

On Saturday, May 11, 2013, Campbell Soup Company will again join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers to Stamp Out Hunger across America. The annual Stamp Out Hunger drive is the nation’s largest single-day food drive, providing assistance to the millions of Americans.

"Letter carriers in Chicago look forward to the annual food drive,” said Mack I. Julion, President, Branch 11 of the National Association of Letter Carriers. “It originated here in Chicago and has now become the nation’s largest food drive. Last year we collected and distributed over 600,000 pounds of food to neighborhood pantries in the Chicago area. We are hopeful that our customers will join us once again and contribute as we help stamp out hunger!"

To participate in the Stamp Out Hunger drive, Chicago residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable food items, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, rice or cereal, next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 11. Local letter carriers will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and take them to local food banks.

Despite the generosity of millions of Americans who have supported the letter carriers' food drive in previous years, the need for food assistance still exists for millions of families. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 50 million Americans, including nearly 17 million children, are struggling with hunger.

The Mayor officially proclaimed Saturday, May 11 as Stamp Out Hunger day in Chicago.

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Photo Caption: Mayor Emanuel Donates Food In Support of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive.